A reliquary with the blood of the Polish Pope is the newest part of the Treasury of St. Vitus Cathedral. The reliquary has been gifted by the Pope’s secretary, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz. The figural reliquary is made from Czech crystal and silver. Its installation in the St. Vitus Cathedral took place forty years after the unsuccessful assassination attempt on St. Peter’s Square. John Paul II. himself explained the failure of the attempt by the help of Our Lady of Fátima whose appearance was being remembered that day by the Catholic church. To this day however, the circumstances of the assassination attempt are still unknown.

The saint is depicted in a moment of the highest spiritual experience during common prayer with millions of believers. The look of the drapery expresses his dynamic and modern approach to a dialogue with the whole world. The proof of this approach is his remarkable travel activity – he was present any time he was needed.

John Paul II. was the first non-Italian pope after 455 years. Using his significant influence on politics he contributed to the fall of communist regimes in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Before his death in 2005 he visited the Czech Republic three times during his many travels abroad.